Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Tourist Information and Travel Guide

ABOVE: The skyline of Rothenburg ob der Tauber on a misty
autumn day.

By Durant Imboden

The former Free
Imperial City of Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the star attraction along Germany's
Romantic Road. It's justifiably celebrated not only for its well-preserved
medieval buildings and walls, but also for its unspoiled setting. When you
approach the city or stand atop its walls and gaze out over a countryside that's
free of suburban sprawl, it's easy to imagine what Rothenburg must have looked
like in the Middle Ages.

Skeptics might complain that Rothenburg feels like a theme park,
but that says more about theme parks than it does about Rothenburg. This
Franconian gem is the real deal: a working town of 12,000 people where heritage,
historic preservation, and modern life have achieved a profitable equilibrium.

To be sure, Rothenburg can be crowded during high season, with
some 2.5 million visitors packing its medieval streets and squares each
year--including a million or so Japanese and Americans, who comprise
Rothenburg's largest foreign contingents. That's why it pays to spend at least
one and preferably two or more nights in Rothenburg: You'll find the city less
crowded--and more relaxing--when the daytrippers have left in their tour buses.
(If you're really looking for solitude, visit in January or February, when the
only people in town are the locals and a handful of Goethe Institute language
students.)

If you live outside the EU, a tax-free Renault or Peugeot tourist car lease can be cheaper than renting for visits of three weeks or longer. Minimum driver age is 18, there' s no upper age limit, and rates include insurance.